Truckers speak out on proposed rulemakings
In recent months, government agencies have issued several notices that could greatly affect the trucking industry.
And truck drivers responded.
Here’s a compilation of some of the comments that truck drivers have submitted in recent months.
On electronic IDs
This is a bad idea in so many ways that I honestly don’t know where to start. FMCSA is going to force trucking to shut down if they are not careful, especially the small companies that are so much more important than you think.
Consider this, some companies are having trouble already finding good drivers, because you are forcing decent drivers to leave a profession that treats them like criminals.
– Mark Berton
A mandated electronic ID for interstate or intrastate trucks is not a good proposition. Not only is it truly an invasion of privacy, but it will allow the government and law enforcement to access the ID without informing the company or driver.
Drivers should be informed prior to inspection under privacy laws and the Constitution. Now, driving down the road a truck can be inspected without knowledge or consent, and a citation can be written without the knowledge of the company or driver.
Get real, there is no reason to mandate electronic IDs. They are a violation of privacy, an unwarranted expense, and they do not enhance safety.
– Heather Burgess
No personal information should ever be attained in this manner. It is clearly an invasion of privacy. Truck drivers are civilians, not military members. The government does not pay our wages. We do not work for the government. We are not government contractors. We are civilians with an MC number already displayed on the side of the truck.This ID will be just another expense for us truck drivers.
– Maria Lozano
On ELDs
There’s been more wrecks since the ELD has been enforced. They are racing against time, and that’s what gets people killed … So please stop the ELD before any more people get killed.
– Shirley Hughes
The statistics are showing that ELDs aren’t preventing crashes. There is a misapplication of technology and authority, because we are seeing “compliance” and “fatigue” used interchangeably.
There is no guarantee of the hours-of-service regs coinciding with when a truck driver is actually tired or rested/alert. To remove the pre-2000 exemption is going to hurt highway safety. It also is going to hurt the safest operators, small business, many of who operate these trucks in the most safe and efficient manner on the road … The hours of service/ELD scenario has painted drivers into a bad box. I urge you to not further damage the system that is in place for hours-of-service compliance via ELDs.
Keep the pre-2000 ELD exemption on older trucks. ELD is not safer and causes engine malfunctions on older trucks. Many drivers with pre-2000 motor trucks have attempted to use an ELD, and it tore their engine up. Keep the older trucks on paper logs.
– Josh Tritten
On worker classification
Lease-purchase is horrible. I’ve paid into many trucks, some owned by these fleet companies that I no longer have or own. All that money gone and still no ownership of a truck … They do treat lease drivers like company (drivers) through the wording of their contracts, and the way I get fired for speaking up. I wish they (would) do away with it, or fix the problems in it. Bring back the independence to the drivers, or get rid of it.
– Juanita Morgan
I am a Landstar business capacity operator, and this law would make my work illegal. Contrary to some industries, trucking lease operator relationships can be incredibly favorable. I have saved for years to afford my own truck and now get access to incredible freight with my company. No one is being taken advantage of, and it is voluntary.
– Andrew McGlynn LL